HISTORY OF PHARMACY(1)

In the Western World
The beginnings of pharmacy are ancient. When the first person expressed juice from a succulent leaf to apply to a wound, this art was being practiced. In the Greek legend, Asclepius, the god of the healing art, delegated to Hygieia the duty of compounding his remedies. She was his apothecary or pharmacist. The physician-priests of Egypt were divided into two classes: those who visited the sick and those who remained in the temple and prepared remedies for the patients. The Ancient TimeIn ancient Greece and Rome and during the Middle Ages in Europe, the art of healing recognized a separation between the duties of the physician and those of the herbalist, who supplied the physician with the raw materials from which to make medicines. The Arabian influence in Europe during the 8th century AD, however, brought about the practice of separate duties for the pharmacist and physician. The trend toward specialization was later reinforced by a law enacted by the city council of Bruges in 1683, forbidding physicians to prepare medications for their patients. In America, Benjamin Franklin took a pivotal step in keeping the two professions separate when he appointed an apothecary to the Pennsylvania Hospital. The Modern Pharmaceutical PractiseThe development of the pharmaceutical industry since World War II led to the discovery and use of new and effective drug substances. It also changed the role of the pharmacist. The scope for extemporaneous compounding of medicines was much diminished and with it the need for the manipulative skills that were previously applied by the pharmacist to the preparation of bougies, cachets, pills, plasters, and potions. The pharmacist continues, however, to fulfill the prescriber's intentions by providing advice and information; by formulating, storing, and providing correct dosage forms; and by assuring the efficacy and quality of the dispensed or supplied medicinal product

HISTORY OF PHARMACY(2)

In the Chinese World
Like the ancient medical practise, the traditional chinese medicine is mainly make?use of natural substances. Visiting a?Chinese pharmacy, there are row and row of tidy drawers with animal, plant, and mineral products, each with a particular purpose. Among the assortment of curiosities are cinnabar and amber, to relax the nerves; peach pits and safflower, to improve blood circulation; bears gall to relieve pain and tranquilize; Chinese ephedra (mahuang) to induce perspiration; and ginseng to strengthen cardiac function.
The Chinese PractiseIn the modern Chinese societies, the traditional doctors are mainly concentrated on the diagnosis of disease; then write up a chinese prescription which mainly containing herbal products.( There has been an existence of separation of prescribing and dispensing functions of chinese medicinal practise for hundred of years!).?Then the prescription is to be dispensed by dispenser or pharmacists (trained or untrained) The pharmacist selects a few particular ingredients from the hundreds on his shelf. These are taken home by the patient, boiled into a 'soup', and consumed. Confronted with such a steaming brew, you might ask yourself just what the basis of this ancient medical art is. The theoretical framework of Chinese medicine was established more than two millennia ago. Shen Nung Tried All The HerbsAccording to Chinese legend, Shen Nung , the Chinese father of agriculture and leader of an ancient clan, took it upon himself to test, one by one, hundreds of different plants to discover their nutritional and medicinal properties. Many of these turned out to be poisonous to humans. Over the millennia, Chinese have used themselves as guinea pigs in this same way to continue testing plants for their properties of inducing cold , heat, warmth , and coolness . They classified the medicinal effects of the plants on the various parts of the body, then tested them to determine their toxicity, what dosages would be lethal, and so forth. For example, the stem of Chinese ephedra is a sudorific; but its roots, to the contrary, can check perspiration. Cassia bark is warming in nature, and is useful in treating colds. Mint is cooling in nature, and is used to relieve the symptoms of illness resulting from heat factors. This accumulation of experience strengthened the Chinese understanding of natural phenomena, and increased the applications of natural principles in Chinese medicine. The same principles described in the preceding are also applied to assess the patient's living environment, his life rhythms, the foods he prefers or avoids, his personal relationships, and his language and gestures, as a tool in better understanding his illness, and suggesting improvements in various areas. Once the excesses or imbalances are pinpointed, they can be adjusted, and physical and mental health and balance restored. This attainment of equilibrium in the body's flow of energy is the ultimate guiding principle of Chinese medical treatment. The Han DynastyA great deal of ancient medical knowledge is preserved in the pre-Chin (221-207 B.C.) Inner Cannon (Nei Ching), a comprehensive record of Chinese medical theories upto that time. The Han dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.) produced an authoritative and valuable practical guide; even to the present day to the treatment of illness, the Treatise on Diseases Caused by Cold Factors (Shang Han Lun) by Chang Chung-ching.

HISTORY OF PHARMACY(3)-In Chinese World 3

The Theory of Five Elements
Similar to the theory of yin-yang, the theory of five elements – wood, fire, earth, metal and water – was an ancient philosophical concept used to explain the composition and phenomena of the physical universe. In traditional Chinese medicine the theory of five elements is used to interpret the relationship between the physiology and pathology of the human body and the natural environment. According to the theory, the five elements are in constant move and change, and the interdependence and mutual restraint of the five elements explain the complex connection between material objects as well as the unity between the human body and the natural world.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the visceral organs, as well as other organs and tissues, have similar properties to the five elements; they interact physiologically and pathologically as the five elements do. Through similarity comparison, different phenomena are attributed to the categories of the five elements. Based on the characteristics, forms, and functions of different phenomena, the complex links between physiology and pathology as well as the interconnection between the human body and the natural world are explained.
The five elements emerged from an observation of the various groups of dynamic processes, functions and characteristics observed in the natural world. The aspects involved in each of the five elements are follows:
Fire: draught, heat, flaring, ascendance, movement, etc.
Wood: germination, extension, softness, harmony, flexibility, etc.
Metal: strength, firmness, killing, cutting, cleaning up, etc.
Earth: growing, changing, nourishing, producing, etc.
Water: moisture, cold, descending, flowing, etc.
Between the five elements there exists close relationships that can be classified as mutual promoting and mutual restraining under physiological conditions, and mutual encroaching and mutual violating under pathological conditions. By mutually promoting and restraining, functions of the various systems are coordinated and homeostasis maintained. By encroaching and violating, pathological changes can be explained and complications predicted.
The order of mutual promoting among the five elements is that wood promotes fire, fire promotes earth, earth promotes metal, metal promotes water, and promotes generates wood. In this way each of the five elements has this type of mutual promoting relationship with the other, thus promoting is circular and endless. According to the order of mutual restraining, however, wood restrains earth, metal restrains wood, etc. Each of the five elements also shares this restraining relationship with the other. Mutual promoting and mutual restraining are two aspects that cannot be separated. If there is no promoting, then there is no birth and growth. If there is no restraining, then there is no change and development for maintaining normal harmonious relations. Thus the movement and change of all things exists through their mutual promoting and restraining relationships. These relationships are the basis of the circulation of natural elements.
Encroaching and violating are the pathological conditions of the normal mutual promoting and restraining relationships. Encroaching denotes that the restraining of one of the five elements to another surpasses the normal level, while violating means that one of the five elements restrains the other opposite to the normal mutual restraining order.

HISTORY OF PHARMACY(4)-In Chinese World 2

Yin/Yang Theory
Yin/Yang theory is a very dynamic system of thought that reflects the ancient view that the Universe is constantly changing, flowing, transforming and part of an ongoing process, rather than a linear set of static shapes and forms. Critical to the understanding of the ebb and flow of Yin & Yang is the understanding of Qi as the subtle energy present in all things and what animates, moves and gives life to all things in Nature. The ancients developed these systems by observing the ebb and flow and the cycles of Nature.
Yin & Yang are seen as mutually dependent opposites; the essential duality of the Universe. Yin transforms into Yang as Night transforms into Day, as the cold of Winter transforms into the heat of Summer.
Yin is the 'dark side of the mountain, cool, passive, still. Yang is the 'bright side of the mountain, warm, active, open. Yin is the Feminine principal. Yang is the Masculine principal.
The five basic characteristics of Yin & Yang are 1.) that they are opposite to each other,2.) that neither can exist without the other (interdependent), 3.) that each is constantly consuming the other (interconsuming), 4.) that they are in a constant state of transforming into each other (intertransforming) and 5.) that because each contains the other within it, each can be divided infinitely
In Chinese Medicine, an understanding of Yin & Yang is vital. If a condition is Yin in nature, that is understood to be a deficiency of some sort. If a condition is Yang in nature, that is understood to be an excess of some sort. Given the ebb and flow of Qi, a Yin condition can, and probably should become Yang in nature as the patient recovers. At the same time, a Yang condition, such as a Cold or the Flu, can and often does become Yin as the body is depleted. Needless to say there are numerous permutations of Yin & Yang in TCM diagnosis. Both are usually present and it is their dynamic interaction that is the basis for diagnosing and treating any disharmony.
Concepts of Yin & Yang permeate Oriental thinking at all levels. Spring and Summer are seen as the Yang times of the year. Time for rebirth, renewal, growth and activity. Autumn and Winter are seen as the Yin times of the year. Time for the earth to go to sleep. It is a time for introspection and meditation.
Each day is divided into Yang & Yin. The morning is seen as the Yang time of the day, while the afternoon is the Yin part of the day. The true Yin part of the 24 hour cycle is the night. The first part of the night is referred to as the Yang within Yin part, while closer to morning is referred to as the Yin within Yin part. The hour or two before dawn is the lowest ebb of the body. Dawn is considered the Yang within Yang part of the day, while the afternoon is the Yin within Yang, and so on.
Looking at the world in terms of Yin and Yang gives one a real sense of how dynamic and ever-changing is the Universe. No matter how you are feeling today, it will change. The ancients say one never steps into the same river twice; One never awakens to the same day twice.

HISTORY OF PHARMACY(5)-In Chinese World 1

Qi Theory
TCM theory rests on the notion that we should all live in harmony and balance with Nature, with each other and with the Universe. Over the millennia, TCM practitioners have developed a number of theoretical frameworks that help explain the human condition, the Universe, and the interconnectedness of all things. Modern TCM practitioners have a deep reservoir of theoretical and practical knowledge from which to draw.
The main theories of Chinese Medicine are 1.) The Theory of Qi2.) The Theory of Yin/Yang3.) Five Elements Theory
According to ancient Taoist thought, Qi is the motive force in all living things and in the Universe. Qi takes on infinite forms in the physical world. All Qi is derived from Universal or Heavenly Qi. A convenient, if highly inaccurate translation of Qi is 'energy. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, there are numerous kinds of Qi, that are related to health and well-being. There is Yuan Qi, which is roughly translated as Original Qi or Congenital Qi. This is the Qi we are born with. It is the Qi we inherit from our parents. It is the Qi that animates us and gives us life. This also called Heavenly Qi, because when we come into this world we bring a bit of heaven with us. Yuan Qi can be strong or weak. Babies born with congenital deficiencies are said to have weak Yuan Qi. According to TCM theory, the Qi that one is born with is all the Qi that one gets for life. Except for certain difficult Qi building exercises in Qi Gong practice, Yuan Qi cannot be created. It must be 'topped up' by Acquired Qi, produced in the Spleen and the Lungs.
Ying Qi is also known as Acquired or Post Heavenly Qi. Ying Qi is produced by the Spleen from food and water and mixes with Yuan Qi which is stored in the Kidneys. Ying Qi is seen as replenishing one's Yuan Qi. Over the course of one's life, Yuan Qi is slowly depleted by day to day activities. A bad diet, illness, or Spleen disharmony will fail to produce sufficient Qi to restore reserves and the body suffers. Overindulgence in Sex, illness or other Kidney disharmony will deplete Yuan Qi faster than the Spleen can produce Ying Qi to top it up.
Another form of acquired Qi, is called Zhong Qi, or pectoral Qi. This type of Qi is produced in the Lungs from air and water and like Ying Qi helps to 'top up' Yuan Qi. In Chinese Medicine there is a unique relationship between the Lungs and the Kidneys.
Finally, there is Wei Qi, also known as defensive Qi. Wei Qi exists in the exterior layers of the body and the skin. Its main function is to warm the body and defend it against outside invasion of Heat, Cold, Wind, Dryness, or Dampness.
There are numerous other kinds of Qi in the body, but these are the main ones.
According to TCM theory Qi circulates in the body along its own energetic pathways, in the same way that blood circulates in the arteries and veins. Qi is also present in the blood and is said to be the energy that animates it and moves it along.
In TCM diagnosis one may observe specific signs and symptoms of Qi excess or deficiency. For example, one of the most common ailments, especially in Western culture is Liver Qi Stagnation. Liver Qi Stagnation has specific signs and symptoms such as pain in the diaphragm area, a wiry pulse, possibly headaches, redness or slight purplish colour along the sides of the tongue and irritability. A western diagnosis would show no organ damage, and conclude that nothing is wrong. At best western medicine would attempt to suppress the symptoms.
The theory of Qi allows practitioners to treat disharmonies, while they are still energetic in nature, before any physical damage occurs. Liver Qi Stagnation is a relatively minor and easily treatable condition. Prolonged stagnation in the body though if untreated will eventually become much more serious.
Finally, an aspect of Qi that even Traditional Chinese Medicine as it is practiced today, tends to overlook, is that it animates the Spirit as much as the body. For many, the practice of healing is a Spiritual practice, and movement of Qi ultimately is designed to heal the spirit. Bringing balance and harmony means to harmonize the body, emotions, mind and spirit. There are many Acupuncture points whose functions include calming the spirit, releasing emotional buildups, and promoting mental clarity. Very often these are the very same points that affect the body physically.
It was thought by ancient practitioners that the proper and determined cultivation of Qi in the body would eventually lead to 'spiritualization' of the body. That is the ability of the practitioner to transcend the limits of the physical body and achieve immortality.
In Chinese medicine, the manipulation of Qi to promote wellness at the energetic or metaphysical levels is as important as anything that is done to treat disease at the physical level.

PROCESSING OF HERBS FOR USE

Chinese herbal medicines are used internally and externally. For both types herbs can be prepared by water or alcohol extraction, baking, boiling, frying, or grinding.
Internal formulas are prepared as powders, teas (AKA decoctions), extracts, and pills. Powders are most often taken as drafts (stirring the powder into water and drinking the mix) or large gummy pills (6-9g) made by mixing in honey. Teas are boiled from 10 minutes to an hour. Extracts are made with water or alcohol or oil. Pills are made with both traditional and modern processes.
Traditional herb boiling pot made ofClay. Note the vent spout on the left
External types are liniments, powders, extracts, pastes or salves, and plasters. Often herbs are ground and mixed with a binder, such as sesame oil, to make the salve or paste andthen used in this form. Plasters were made by applying the paste to leaves or other material suitable for use against the skin. Modern commercially prepared

plasters usually have adhesive to hold them in place. External formulas are used for bruises, sprains, open wounds, burns and swellings and other dermatological conditions

What is herbal medicine?

Herbal medicine, also called botanical medicine or phytomedicine, refers to the use of any plant's seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark, or flowers for medicinal purposes. Long practiced outside of conventional medicine, herbalist is becoming more mainstream as up-to-date analysis and research show their value in the treatment and prevention of disease.

What is herbal medicine good for?

Herbalists treat many conditions such as asthma, eczema, premenstrual syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, migraine, menopausal symptoms, chronic fatigue, and irritable bowel syndrome, among others. Herbal preparations are best taken under the guidance of a trained professional. Be sure to consult with your doctor or an herbalist before self-treating. Some common herbs and their uses are discussed below. Please see our monographs on individual herbs for detailed descriptions of uses as well as risks, side effects, and potential interactions

What happens during a visit to an herbalist?

When you visit an herbalist, the treatment goals are often more broad than stopping a single complaint. Herbalists aim to correct imbalances, resolve patterns of dysfunction, and treat the underlying cause of your complaint. Specific symptoms may also be treated if necessary. A session with an herbalist typically lasts one hour. You may be physically examined and asked about your medical history and your general well-being (that is, how well you sleep, what you eat, if you have a good appetite, good digestion and elimination, how often you exercise, and what you do to relax). The herbalist might recommend one or more herbs, dietary changes, and lifestyle modifications. Because herbal medicines are slower acting than pharmaceuticals, you might be asked to return for a follow-up in two to four weeks

How are herbs used?

For the reasons described in the previous section, herbalists prefer using whole plants rather than extracting single components from them. Whole plant extracts have many components. These components work together to produce therapeutic effects and also to lessen the chances of side effects from any one component. Several herbs are often used together to enhance effectiveness and synergistic actions and to reduce toxicity. Herbalists must take many things into account when prescribing herbs. For example, the species and variety of the plant, the plant's habitat, how it was stored and processed, and whether or not there are contaminants

How do herbs work?

For most herbs, the specific ingredient that causes a therapeutic effect is not known. Whole herbs contain many ingredients, and it is likely that they work together to produce the desired medicinal effect. Many factors affect how effective an herb will be. For example, the type of environment (climate, bugs, soil quality) in which a plant grew will affect its components, as will how and when it was harvested and processed.

What is the history of herbal medicine?

Plants had been used for medicinal purposes long before recorded history. For example, ancient Chinese and Egyptian papyrus writings describe medicinal plant uses. Indigenous cultures (e.g., African and Native American) used herbs in their healing rituals, while others developed traditional medical systems (e.g., Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine) in which herbal therapies were used systematically. Scientists found that people is different parts of the globe tended to use the same or similar plants for the same purposes.

In the early 19th century, when methods of chemical analysis first became available, scientists began extracting and modifying the active ingredients from plants. Later, chemists began making their own version of plant compounds, beginning the transition from raw herbs to synthetic pharmaceuticals. Over time, the use of herbal medicines declined in favor of pharmaceuticals. Recently, the World Health Organization estimated that 80% of people worldwide rely on herbal medicines for some aspect of their primary healthcare. In the last twenty years in the United States, increasing public dissatisfaction with the cost of prescription medications, combined with an interest in returning to natural or organic remedies, has led to an increase in the use of herbal medicines. In Germany, roughly 600 to 700 plant-based medicines are available and are prescribed by approximately 70% of German physicians

What is herbal medicine?

Herbal medicine, also called botanical medicine or phytomedicine, refers to the use of any plant's seeds, berries, roots, leaves, bark, or flowers for medicinal purposes. Long practiced outside of conventional medicine, herbalist is becoming more mainstream as up-to-date analysis and research show their value in the treatment and prevention of disease.

How Does Acupressure Work?

According to the principles of TCM, qiflows through the body via 14 primary meridians or channels. To strengthen the flow of qi,or remove blockages in the meridians, an acupuncturist inserts a number of tiny, sterile, flexible needles just under the skin at certain specific points (called acupoints) along the channels. There are four to five hundred named acupoints along the meridians, some of which are associated with specific internal organs or organ systems. If you are suffering from nausea, for example, needles might be inserted into acupoints on your wrist, while a vision problem might be treated with needles in the foot. (Additional ear, scalp, and hand points are also commonly used by some practitioners.) Acupuncture practitioners believe that the therapy stimulates the body's internal regulatory system and nurtures a natural healing response.

acupuncture

Herbal Bath Teas

Traditional herbal bath teas, soaks, rinses for relaxation, recreation, therapy
Bath teas have traditionally been used for for the treatment and prophylactics. Bath teas help maintain and improve healthy skin and hair, relieve pain and reverse exhaustion, resist cold and flu. Herbal baths were employed in the treatment of skin conditions,including acne, dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis, scalp itching, flaking and dandruff. Body teas help combat cold and flu, muscular aches and pains, rheumatism and arthritis. Herbal soaks and wraps are safe and helpful remedy against stress, anxiety, insomnia, they help reverse fatigue and loss of energy, improve alertness and performance. Bath tea formulas from Floraleads Gr are developed from traditional recipes and composed of herbs only, no flavors, no odors, no additives. Herbal bath teas combine benefits of herbal aromatherapy and direct application of herbal nutrients to the skin. They are used as body bath, hip bath, foot bath, herbal wrap, hair rinse and as aromatherapy herbal pillows.

Herbal bath Floraderms

Floraderm I promotes healthy scalp and hair, helps improve scalp conditions
Herbal bath Floraderm I is traditionally used to help improve scalp conditions, promote healthy hair growth and combat scalp itching and dandruff. It helps avoid stress scalp itching and flaking if used to rinse the hair after the hair wash. Ingredients: Burdock, Hops, Calamus, Birch, Calendula, Nettle, Heather, Pine, Coltsfoot, Chamomile RecommendationsTo maintain healthy scalp use once - twice a week. Rinse hair with the rinse made of 1/4 lb sachet in 1 gal of water and cooled down to a comfortable temperature. For people who experience scalp irritation after the hair wash, with symptoms like red spots, itching, flaking. For stressed scalp syndrome. Use Floraderm I after the hair wash. Rinse for 10 - 15 min with the rinse made of 1/4 lb sachet in 1 gal of water and cooled down to a comfortable temperature. To help combat scalp itching, seborrhea, dandruff. Wash or immerse hair in the rinse made of 1/2 lb sachet in 1 - 2 gallons and cooled down to a comfortable temperature for 10 - 20 min every day for 5 - 6 days and every third day for two - three weeks. To promote the healing action combine Floraderm I with the ointment Balmflower.
Floraderm II helps improve skin conditions and maintain healthy skin
Bath tea Floraderm II is developed from the recipe employed for centuries to promote skin vitality, restore and maintain healthy skin and scalp, help combat eczema and dermatitis. Ingredients: Burdock , Eucalyptus, Linden, Nettle, Oregano, Plantain, Rosemary, Thyme, Vervian. Recommendations To maintain and nourish healthy skin - take herbal bath made of 1/4 - 1/2 lb bath sachet once - twice a week To help improve exhausted or neglected skin - take bath made of 1/2 lb sachets every third day for at least three weeks.To help combat eczema - start with bath made with two - three 1/2 lb sachets every day for 5 days and thereafter as above . To help improve conditions of scalp and hair. Use as a rinse after the hair wash. Wash hair for 10 - 15 min with the rinse of 1/4 lb sachet in 1 gal of water and cooled down to a comfortable temperature. To help combat bad feet odor. Take a feet bath made of 1/4 - 1/2 lb sachet in 1 - 2 gallons and cooled down to a comfortable temperature for at least 15 - 20 min every day for 5 days and every third day for two - three weeks after.

Herbal bath - Tranquillity

Tranquillity - relaxing, calming bath tea. Helps relieve stress, reduce anxiety, reverse insomnia
Tranquillity helps reduce the undesirable effects of stress and dissolves anxiety. Herbs with calming and relaxing action promote healthy sleep. Ingredients: Lemon balm, Valerian, Lavender, Chamomile, Eucalyptus, Birch, Peppermint, Linden.RecommendationsPlease note, the brewing time for that bath may be reduced to 10 min.As a calming, relaxing treatment take 15 min bath made of 1/4 lb sachet. To promote good night sleep take 15 min bath made of 1/2 lb sachet. Be especially cautious not to fall asleep in the bathtub. Have a timer on and/or someone around.

Golden Rod bath tea

Golden Rod bath tea helps combat backaches and arthritis pains relieve joint and muscle pains Traditionally used as remedy for arthritis, rheumatism, back and joint pains. Combine herbs with relieving, soothing action and herbs rich in volatile oils able to penetrate in the warm bath deep in the skin and provide healthy beneficial nutrients for various body systems.Ingredients: Golden Rod, White Willow bark, Whte pine bark, Angelica root, Savory, Juniper, Heather, Sage, Oatstraw.RecommendationsFor use as a herbal bath, foot bath or a herbal wrap. The best time for the Golden Rod bath is the evening. Take a bath before going to bed for 30 - 40 min, but no longer than you feel comfortable. Traditionally, it was recommended to cover the water in the bath using poncho-style screen with head hole. This arrangement reduces the evaporation of precious volatile oils from the tub and keep the water as warm as comfortable. As a wrap - use for two hours, preferably staying in the bed.

Herbal bath-Baby Bath Tea

Baby Bath Tea - used to help combat skin irritations, redness, reverse itching, allergic reactions. Ingredients: Sage, Lungwort, Black Currant, Chamomile, Pine, Burdock, Calamus, Wheat, Wild Thyme, Walnut.Recommendations: use 1/4 lb sachet for baby bath, 1/2 lb sachet for regular bath

Herbal Bath-Slavonic Bath

Slavonic Bath - bath tea and herbal rinse combining cleansing and restorative action. The recipe was known at the times of ancient Slavick state - Kiev Russia. Herbal formula was mentioned by contemporary writer as a bath remedy used by nobles and ordinary people to help restore body's energy, shape up and cleanse the skin. Apparently, herbs were allowed to steep for several hours in a big wooden barrel filled with warm water. The bathers would soak in the barrel and rub themselves with soaked herbs.Ingredients: Nettle, Birch, Sage, Oregano, Soap wort.RecommendationsThe bath combines properties of mild herbal cleansing shampoo and restorative herbal treatment. Use 1/4 lb sachet for a rinse and 1/2 lb sachet for full bath

Herbal bath - Fresh Heart

Fresh Heart - revitalizing herbal bath tea helps restore energy, reverse fatigue and dissolve tirednessTraditionally used as a general tonic invigorating bath to help combat fatigue, improve performance and drive out depression. In one herbal medicine text the bath tea was recommended as a remedy for winter apathy and as a cure to restore the energy after the day of horse riding. The bath tea is also useful remedy to stimulate the body's strengths to combat respiratory conditions, such as chronic bronchitis. Ingredients: Calamus, Peppermint, Oregano, Yarrow, Coltsfoot, Wormwood, Lemon balm, Nettle, Rosemary.RecommendationsAs a tonic, restorative treatment take 15 min bath made of 1/4 - 1/2 lb sachet. To help combat chronic fatigue and exhaustion use the bath made of one - two 1/2 lb sachet for 5 - 7 days and thereafter as needed. To promote recovery of respiratory conditions - take the bath made of 1/2 lb sachet every day for at least 1 week and stay inside for 2 hours after the bath

Herbs

Herbal bath - Plain Oatstraw
Plain Oatstraw - One of the most traditional herbal baths widely used in 19th century as a treatment of choice for spasms, nervous disorders, joint pains and skin disorders. Also believed to be helpful as a supportive treatment for the people fighting with addictions. For centuries raw material (Oatstraw) was available and affordable nearly everywhere, therefore Oatstraw bath tea has a sizable history of clinical use in many countries. The most popular applications are: in Germany - for inflammatory skin disorders, in Russia - to treat rheumatoid arthritis, in France as a remedy for spasms and nervous disorders.
RecommendationsAs a restorative treatment take a bath made of one 1/4 - 1/2 lb. sachet for 20 - 40 min or until you feel comfortable. To help improve conditions related to arthritis, or joint pains take 2 - 3 baths made of one - two 1/2 lb. sachets per week for several weeks. Oatstraw bath may be combined with any other herbal bath described here. It works well when combined or taken in turn with Golden Rod bath. Use 3 days cycle with the Golden Rod bath on the first day and Oatstraw bath on the second and third day.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Methods 2

What is the difference between TCM and Modern Pharmacology?
TCM is distinct from medicine based on pharmaceutical drugs. Firstly, because of the complexity of plant materials it is far more balanced than medicine based on isolated active ingredients and is far less likely to cause side-effects. Secondly, because TCM are typically prescribed in combination, the different components of a formulae balance each other, and they undergo a mutual synergy which increases efficacy and enhances safety. Thirdly, TCM seeks primarily to correct internal imbalances rather than to treat symptoms alone, and therapeutic intervention is designed to encourage this self-healing process.

Herbs

Are herbs safe?

Chinese herbs are very safe when prescribed correctly by a properly trained practitioner. Over centuries TCM practitioners have compiled detailed information about the pharmacopoeia and placed great emphasis on the protection of the patients. Allergic type reactions are rare, and no lasting damage will be caused if treatment is stopped as soon as symptoms appear

TCM and Health

What is the difference between TCM and Modern Pharmacology?
TCM is distinct from medicine based on pharmaceutical drugs. Firstly, because of the complexity of plant materials it is far more balanced than medicine based on isolated active ingredients and is far less likely to cause side-effects. Secondly, because TCM are typically prescribed in combination, the different components of a formulae balance each other, and they undergo a mutual synergy which increases efficacy and enhances safety. Thirdly, TCM seeks primarily to correct internal imbalances rather than to treat symptoms alone, and therapeutic intervention is designed to encourage this self-healing process

TCM and Health

What is the difference between TCM and Modern Pharmacology?

TCM is distinct from medicine based on pharmaceutical drugs. Firstly, because of the complexity of plant materials it is far more balanced than medicine based on isolated active ingredients and is far less likely to cause side-effects. Secondly, because TCM are typically prescribed in combination, the different components of a formulae balance each other, and they undergo a mutual synergy which increases efficacy and enhances safety. Thirdly, TCM seeks primarily to correct internal imbalances rather than to treat symptoms alone, and therapeutic intervention is designed to encourage this self-healing process.

TCM and Health

Daily Health
In TCM theory, treatment is only part of keeping you healthy. The other important part is your healthy diet and healthy lifestyle. Food can be considered the medicinal herbs that we take three times a day. Being aware of what we eat can help to maintain internal balance and prevent disease on a daily basis

TCM and Health

Principles
The underlying basis of TCM is that all of creation is born from the interdependence of two opposite principles, yin and yang (see the Eight Guiding Principles below). These two opposites are in constant motion, creating a fluctuating balance in the healthy body. Disease results when either yin or yang is in a state of prolonged excess or deficiency.
One of the body constituents is Qi (pronounced "chee"), which is the energy that gives us the ability to move, think, feel, and work. Qi circulates along a system of conduits, the principle ones being channels or meridians. There are twelve principle bilateral channels of Qi, each intimately connected with one of the viscera of the body, and each manifesting its own characteristic Qi (e.g. Liver Qi, Gallbladder Qi, etc.). When the flow of Qi becomes unbalanced through physical, emotional, or environmental insults, illness may result.
TCM practitioners are trained to view the body, mind, and spirit as one system, as opposed to Western medicine practitioners, who are taught to regard each of these elements as separate. Despite TCM's dramatically different approach, Westerners have been drawn to its practice because of its emphasis on healing the whole person and seeking the root cause of illness. However, Westerners do often find it difficult to translate a TCM diagnosis or remedy into the western practice of medicine with which they are familiar. For example, there is no direct translation for how a TCM practitioner might explain a patient's condition as "cool with dampness," or an "imbalance in water," with a need to "tonify the kidneys" or "replenish Qi".
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The Five Element Theory, also called the five-phase theory, holds that everything in the universe, including our health, is governed by five natural elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. This theory underscores the Chinese belief that human beings, both physically and mentally, are intertwined with nature. Although it is difficult for Westerners to relate this philosophy to the Western approach to medicine, it is fundamental to the understanding of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
In the five element theory, each of the five elements has a season and particular organs and senses associated with it, such as taste, color, sound. The wood element, for example, is associated with spring, the liver, and the gall bladder. Similarly, the fire element is associated with early summer, the heart, and small intestines; the earth element corresponds to late summer, the stomach and spleen; metal is associated with autumn, the lungs and large intestine; and water is associated with winter, the kidneys and bladder.
In contrast to Western medicine's teaching of a separation between the mind and body, TCM views each organ as having particular body and mind functions, as illustrated in the belief that the liver is involved in planning, and in the storage of anger, while the gall bladder is the organ of decision-making.
To determine a patient's composition of the five elements, a TCM practitioner asks many detailed questions that will provide clues as to the nature of their imbalances. They may ask about the person's occupation, stress associated with it, what they like to eat, what physical problems they are experiencing, etc. Although a person may be oriented towards a particular element -- a person who is aggressive might be described as having a "wood" personality -- the Chinese believe that aspects of each of the five elements are present in every person at different times.

TCM and Health

Introduction
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is one of the great herbal systems of the world, with an unbroken tradition going back to the 3rd century BC. Yet throughout its history it has continually developed in response to changing clinical conditions, and has been sustained by research into every aspect of its use. This process continues today with the development of modern medical diagnostic techniques and knowledge.
Because of its systematic approach and clinical effectiveness it has for centuries had a very great influence on the theory and practice of medicine in the East, and more recently has grown rapidly in popularity in the West. It still forms a major part of healthcare provision in China, and is provided in state hospitals alongside western medicine.
Chinese medicine includes all oriental traditions emerging from Southeast Asia that have their origins in China. Practitioners may work within a tradition that comes from Japan, Vietnam, or Korea. It is a complete medical system that is capable of treating a very wide range of conditions. It includes herbal therapy, acupuncture, acupressure, dietary therapy, and exercises in breathing and movement (tai chi and qi gong). Some or several of these may be employed in the course of treatment.
However, the tradition as a whole places great emphasis on lifestyle management in order to prevent disease before it occurs. Chinese medicine recognises that health is more than just the absence of disease and it has a unique capacity to maintain and enhance our capacity for well being and happiness.